The squishy center / 6-2-09

Let's face it, a fetus is not a person.

Let's face it, a fetus is not a random collection of cells.

So how 'bout we don't treat it as either.

If it's a person, it is subject to being murdered. So what then -- you want to prosecute would-be mothers for involuntary manslaughter if they miscarry? You want to charge a pregnant woman with assault if her blood type is harmful to the fetus inside her? Or if she smokes in her third trimester? Because those are three extremely viable courses of action, on a purely legal level, that result from giving a fetus the same rights as a born baby. (Actually, that third one sounds kind of borderline OK.)

Now likewise, if this fetus is nothing more than a bunch of tissue contained within another person, then when does it turn into a human? At birth? Really? Not two hours earlier, during labor? Or not a week before? When it crowns? At the first painful contraction? At 28 weeks, when it's considered viable for legal reasons? At 37 weeks, when it's viable pretty much all the time? Or before it's C-sectioned out of its mother who died four minutes ago on the operating table? Do we have a line in the (sand) womb we can draw here?

Let's face more: George Tiller, the abortion doctor murdered Sunday -- is he a creep or a hero?

How 'bout neither.

You'll have heard, by now, that Tiller performed somewhere in the vicinity of 60,000 abortions, that he was charged and acquitted with providing illegal abortions, and that he was fatally shot in the head at his church on Sunday while handing out the bulletin during the service.

In Salon, Kate Michelman, the former head of NARAL, in the wake of Tiller's death, writes to him: "Our world is doing poorly for having lost you. But your courage will inspire us to draw on our own strength and carry out the work for which you gave your life."

As pro-choice as I am, I can't quite squeeze Tiller into the same box she does. Was he fearless? Certainly. Principled? For sure. Brave? Can't deny it. But heroic-slash-courageous-slash-inspirational? I wonder.

And let's not make Tiller into some sort of villain. He provided a legal service few do, under constant threat of violence. He was shot once already, twice actually, in both arms. You may think his profession is despicable, but that doesn't give you the right to kill him. Or the right to rejoice that he died. (Now, different story altogether if he were a lawyer... hardy har har.)

So, in summary, hope you brought your gray Crayolas for this one.